WARDS OF STATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16717, 20 December 1918, Page 2

WARDS OF STATE.

o VICTIMS OF EPIDEMIC. THE GOATSRNMENT AND THE ORPHANS.

The Hon. G. AV. Russell, Minister Qf 'Public 'Health, speaking to a "Press" reporter at> Chnstchurcli, stated that the subject of .children who had lost both or one parent as the result; of the recent epidemic had been dealt with by Cabinet on Friday,. and his suggestions accepted in globo. These were briefly : (1) That orphan children and children left in a condition of distress by the death of father or mother, will practically become wards of the State. (2) The organisation of the scheme will "oc in the hands of the Education Department which possesses the necessary machinery for enquiry and 'inspection, and also has the., necessary staff to cairy out the scheme. The Public Health Department will find all the funds reqttired for the purpose. "Taking first the case of orphans," Mr Russell went on to say, "orphan children who are not adopted by relatives will, through tho Education Department, ho licensed for a preliminary period to suitable people, bearing in mind the parentage and home associations of tho child in order that it may bo located in a similar or better rank of life to that in which, it was horn.

"The object cf the Government is bo give the child home life rather than institutional life, and already I have recoved a number of applications from people who have offered to adopt childten under the scheme. It is the rule of the Education Department that persons are not allowed to adopt a child until there has been a probation period during which the lady inspectors of the Department exercise supervis.on. When adoption takes place it is not usual for payment to Tie made to the foster parents. Tlio policy will be that ■where it is necessary that paymentshall be made for the maintenance of the child, the basis will ho that laid down under the War PenSimS Act. i.e., 10s 6d per week for each child. "In the ease of a child who has lost a father through the epidemic the same principle w ; ll o'otain. except if the mother is pnt.iiled to the widow's pension, when the difference between the widow's pensV-n and the 10s 6d per week will be paid by the State. "Tn tho rase of the death of the mother, where the father requires assistance in the. home fo>- the br'nging up of Irs child, the assistance will he (;?i the same lines in order that the cVhl will no 1 ; suffer through the loss of its mother.

"Tt hn>; hr-en laid down that ndistance shall be given to beys untl the age of 16 years and to girls until the age of 18. The idea is that the boy will bp able to atart earning something at the age of 16, and that, it is cot dos'rihlp t;>\ f orce crirls to start earning their living on part of it until the ago of 18.

"Each case will bo annually reviewed and the conditions will be adjusted m the cvpnt of the mother or father remarrying.

"J ieet sure the scheme will be sympathet:cally administered by tho Hon. .Mr Hanan and hi-: department-, which :s specially qualified to undertake the work. All Hospital Boards ni?d Mayors have Vieeu notified to send m as early as possible lists cf cases that will come under this scheme, and information is being received at the present; time by tho Department of Public Health. All the matters will be handed on to the Education Department for final settlement. Tho eouutry will appreciate the fact that the children will not be dealt wth on the ordinary lines and under the ordinary law regarding charitable aid. I cannot close my eyes to tho fact that in adopting this principle the Government has opened the door to what is practically a. revolution in the treatment of orphans and destitute children. Tho policy now laid down for sufferers from the epidemic may be regarded as applicable' to all children whether, their parents meet their death by accident or natural causes."

On every outing Kodak. Add to the pleasure of tho trip itself, by taking pictures of the places and the people ihat interest you. Anybody can ta'ko ;md finish pictures by the Kodak system and do it woll: you need no darkroom for loading the cajr.nra or for unloading—even tUo developing is done without darkroojn. Kodak means photography with the bother left out. It offers a simple easy way to good p-'ctures—and it is Jess expensive than you think. Start n Kodak this weekend! Full instructions niren at the Kodak Depni, Baxter's Pharmacv Theatre BuQdiniau Timaru. .„